Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed pledges $10m to eradicate tropical disease

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince helps Carter Centre stamp out Guinea worm disease

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, pledged $10 million to The Carter Centre to eradicate Guinea worm disease. Courtesy: The Carter Centre

Collaboration between The Carter Centre and Sheikh Mohamed to continue work to stamp out non-tropical diseases. Courtesy: The Carter Centre

Despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Carter Centre reported the number of human Guinea worm cases was cut in half to just 27 in 2020 compared to the previous year. Courtesy: The Carter Centre

The Carter Centre and its partners have reduced the incidence of Guinea worm disease by 99.99% (from approximately 3.5 million cases annually in 1986). Courtesy Courtesy: The Carter Centre

Thanks in part to the work of the Carter Centre, Guinea worm disease eradication is closer than ever. Courtesy: The Carter Centre

Guinea worm disease can cause intense, painful inflammation of the legs. Courtesy: The Carter Centre

Guinea worm disease is on track to be the first human disease eradicated since smallpox, and the first disease to be eradicated without the use of vaccines or drugs. Courtesy: The Carter Centre

The Carter Centre is working to eradicate five NTDs: Guinea worm, trachoma, river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, and schistosomiasis in more than a dozen countries. Courtesy: The Carter Centre

People become infected with Guinea worms by drinking unfiltered water from ponds and other stagnant water.Courtesy: The Carter Centre

The first historic meeting between the Founding Father Sheikh Zayed and the former US President Jimmy Carter. Courtesy: The Carter Centre

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, pledged $10 million to the Carter Centre on Wednesday to mark the 30th anniversary of its partnership with the UAE in fighting disease.

With support from Sheikh Mohamed, also the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Carter Centre will continue its work to eradicate neglected tropical illnesses, including Guinea worm disease.

The partnership began when the UAE's Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed, invited former US president Jimmy Carter to the UAE for the first time.

In the meeting, Mr Carter discussed an initiative to eradicate a parasitic disease causing devastation across large parts of Africa.

Sheikh Zayed responded with a substantial donation to the Carter Centre, which began a decades-long commitment to disease eradication by Abu Dhabi's ruling family.

On Wednesday, Sheikh Mohamed said: "We are privileged to continue the legacy of ... Sheikh Zayed in our work with the Carter Centre to eradicate Guinea worm disease.

"I thank former president Carter for our decades-long partnership and his unwavering commitment to ending a disease that affects the world’s poorest and most vulnerable people.

"In the UAE, we have seen first hand the vital link between health and prosperity, and we remain steadfast in our vision of a world where every person deserves to live a healthy, dignified life."

Guinea worm disease eradication is closer than ever. Despite the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Carter Centre reported that the number of Guinea worm cases in people was halved to only 27 in 2020, compared with 2019.

The Carter Centre and its partners have reduced the incidence of Guinea worm disease from about 3.5 million cases a year in 1986.

It is on track to be the first human disease eradicated since smallpox, and the first to be eradicated without the use of vaccines or drugs.

"Starting with my good friend Sheikh Zayed, and today continued through the generosity of his son, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, the UAE has been a staunch ally in the battle against Guinea worm and other neglected tropical diseases," Mr Carter said.

He founded the centre with his wife Rosalynn in 1982.

"Together, the UAE and the Carter Centre have formed a strong partnership that has transcended generations," Mr Carter said.

The centre is working on eradicating five neglected tropical diseases: Guinea worm, trachoma, river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, and schistosomiasis.

Sheikh Mohamed has donated more than $250m since 2010 to efforts to eliminate preventable infectious diseases.

Wednesday's announcement was made before the second annual World NTD Day on January 30, which aims to raise global awareness for the urgent need to end neglected tropical diseases.